JROTC Car Show Set for May 18 at CLHS

Canyon Lake High School Junior ROTC’s (JROTC) Memorial Car Show is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at the school, 8555 FM-32, Fischer.

It’s the first car show for some 135 cadets in JROTC. Although most expenses for the program are paid for by the U.S. military, funds do not cover all expenses, according to David Mayfield, a parent of one of the JROTC students.

Covering miscellaneous expenses is important for CLHS students, whose JROTC academic and leadership teams will advance to Level 3 of national competition in Washington, D.C. June 21-25.

Their travel expenses will be paid for by the non-profit College Options Foundation, which sponsors JROTCs throughout the United States.

In April, CLHS students’ Raiders team performed well in the grueling Islander Challenge in Corpus Christi, hosted by Texas A&M University.

“A lot of people think we are a place for future soldiers, but we are a citizenship class,” said 1st Sgt. Michael Medina, the high school’s JROTC army instructor, who has worked at CLHS for 11 years. He retired from the U.S. Army after 23 years of service. “We motivate young people to become better citizens.”

One of his students, Caleb Almond, recently was awarded a full scholarship to Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Battalion Commander Josh Almond, his twin brother, won a power-lifting scholarship to University of Texas San Antonio.

JROTC students are taught the importance of community service. Volunteer activities include tearing down and building new wheelchair ramps for disabled military veterans, cleaning up area roadways, assisting Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) with various functions, and performing flag ceremonies.

Mayfield said his son, Timothy, came up with the idea of sponsoring a car show to help JROTC raise more money for its off-campus activities.

Timothy owns a 1988 corvette — “his pride and joy.”

After contacting car clubs and aficionados around the area, the Mayfields decided to host an event featuring classic cars, the Texas National Guard, a rock wall, food vendors and music.

Admission is free to the public. Entry fees for car owners are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate.

Kathleen Appel is booster president.